• Argentinian has fought back from several injuries • ‘I was close to quitting right before the Olympics three years ago’

Few people have a better insight into Andy Murray’s torment than Juan Martín del Potro. For Murray’s right hip, read Del Potro’s troublesome knees. Or his unreliable wrists. The Argentinian was close to retiring from tennis three years ago but he summoned the will to return to the top level and believes his old friend and rival is capable of pulling off a similar comeback.

Del Potro will see Murray at Queen’s Club this coming week and he says they will talk about tennis, injuries and football. Yet there is no chance they will have one of their epic bouts. Murray, who had hip surgery earlier this year, is set to play doubles with Feliciano López during the Fever-Tree Championships and at Wimbledon next month, and there is no date set for his return to singles competition.